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Co-Parenting
Teaching baby's and parents to be better birds:
Co-Parenting... I can share with you what "I" do and then you can decide for yourself, if youfeel that this is the way you would like to go. As you may or may notknow, parents feeding their own chicks havecertain microorganisms, bacteria, and antibodies, that they pass on to their offspring when feeding them, much in the same manner as a human [or any mammal] passes onantibodies and such to their new born infants in their colostrum [or first milk]. A baby cockatiel [or any bird] will not likely die from the lack of this first nourishment, but it has been my experience that co-parent and parent fed babys do much better than hand fed day ones. They are usually healthier, stronger, and bigger for their age than hand fed alone babys are.
First off, I start getting the parents accustomed to being handled more often than usual, even before I set them up as a pair for nesting. On average 2 to 3 weeks pier to setting them up, I start spending an extra 10 or 15 minutes a day with each of them. Once I decide who I am going to put together, I put them in a flight cage [2x 2x 3 feet] with a nest box attached but unavailable to them [I put a cardboard cover over the entrance] and continue spending time with them as a pair. This way I have spent a month already getting them used to me being around, touching them, putting my hands in their cage, etc. and also so that they can get "acquainted" with each other. At the end of that week they are most of the time starting to show interest in each other, sharing the same food dish, preening each other, and even courting. I watch to make sure the male goes in and checks out the nest box first, and then goes to mate with the hen. If the hen goes in first she may start laying her eggs before mating begins, and all that work was for nothing.
Several times a day, ever day, I will open the nestbox cover and look in for a few seconds and then close it again. After the eggs are laid and one or both of the parents start sitting full time, I continue opening the nest box daily but nowI start putting my hand in. Slowly and for short periods of time at fist and then for longer periods as time goes on. I continue doing this throughout the full 3 to 4 weeks, depending onhow long it was before they started sitting, and by the time the babys start hatching they are fully used to me opening the cover, and also putting my hands in the box..
I start handling the babys as soon as they are born. Some people shy away from this and say the parents will desert the babys if you do, but this depends on your birds and their relationship with you. I have NEVER lost a baby because I handled it too soon, and it was abandoned by its parents. The first time both parents leave the nest together to feed I am in there holding the babys. I let them know they are safe, talk to them, handle them, pet them [for short periods at fist and then over time for longer periods of time].
I do NOT start hand feeding until 2 weeks, unless I absolutely have NO other choice and have to. I do however take them out of the nest box and hold them for 10 or 15 minutes at a time, several times a day, by the time they are a week old. Most of them by the time their eyes open at 10 days or so old, are quiteused to being handled, and some even look forward to it and actually seem to enjoy it. This is also the time I band the babys as well.
At two weeks the babys are eating on average every four hours, and sleeping through the night [all but maybe one feeding]. I pay close attention to when the parents feed and when it is time for the second feeding of the day [usually about noon time] I will take the baby out and offer it a few CC's of formula. In a few days I will take it out twice a day and so the same again.. I am not over feeding them, just getting them used to formula, hand feeding and being handled.
By 3 weeks I start to offer the babys [who have now usually climbed from the nest box into the cage and have started showing interest in foraging] cooked rice, potato, peas, beans, sprouts, bread, shredded carrots and leafy greens several times a day.
By the time they hit 4 weeks, I place them in a weaning cage, and separate their parents [hopefully before they have set up nest again [eek!]. By now they are starting to eat on their own and I offer them seed on the floor of their cage, as well as soft foods. Once the babys are in the weaning cage, I ONLY offer them formula when they cry for it. This encourages them to eat on their own, but also to know that they have food if the need it. Of course I keep a very close eye on them to make sure that they are eating enough, but most of my babys are fully weaned at 5 to 6 weeks. I know this is early, but in my opinion, its the same scenario as letting infants listen to and watch "baby einstein" before they can actually tell you that they can comprehend it. If you offer it to them they will try, if you wait, they wont. By 6 weeks I start getting them used to other people in the house and guests, visitors, and other pets.
I know that many people think that I take this WAY too seriously, and I do, but I have a personal guarantee that when you get one of my birds, you have a friend for life. They are sweeter, and better tempered and mannered than many birds I have seen out there. This is also why I only set up one or two nest box's at a time. This way I can give the babys my undivided attention 100% of the time, while they are growing up.
First off, I start getting the parents accustomed to being handled more often than usual, even before I set them up as a pair for nesting. On average 2 to 3 weeks pier to setting them up, I start spending an extra 10 or 15 minutes a day with each of them. Once I decide who I am going to put together, I put them in a flight cage [2x 2x 3 feet] with a nest box attached but unavailable to them [I put a cardboard cover over the entrance] and continue spending time with them as a pair. This way I have spent a month already getting them used to me being around, touching them, putting my hands in their cage, etc. and also so that they can get "acquainted" with each other. At the end of that week they are most of the time starting to show interest in each other, sharing the same food dish, preening each other, and even courting. I watch to make sure the male goes in and checks out the nest box first, and then goes to mate with the hen. If the hen goes in first she may start laying her eggs before mating begins, and all that work was for nothing.
Several times a day, ever day, I will open the nestbox cover and look in for a few seconds and then close it again. After the eggs are laid and one or both of the parents start sitting full time, I continue opening the nest box daily but nowI start putting my hand in. Slowly and for short periods of time at fist and then for longer periods as time goes on. I continue doing this throughout the full 3 to 4 weeks, depending onhow long it was before they started sitting, and by the time the babys start hatching they are fully used to me opening the cover, and also putting my hands in the box..
I start handling the babys as soon as they are born. Some people shy away from this and say the parents will desert the babys if you do, but this depends on your birds and their relationship with you. I have NEVER lost a baby because I handled it too soon, and it was abandoned by its parents. The first time both parents leave the nest together to feed I am in there holding the babys. I let them know they are safe, talk to them, handle them, pet them [for short periods at fist and then over time for longer periods of time].
I do NOT start hand feeding until 2 weeks, unless I absolutely have NO other choice and have to. I do however take them out of the nest box and hold them for 10 or 15 minutes at a time, several times a day, by the time they are a week old. Most of them by the time their eyes open at 10 days or so old, are quiteused to being handled, and some even look forward to it and actually seem to enjoy it. This is also the time I band the babys as well.
At two weeks the babys are eating on average every four hours, and sleeping through the night [all but maybe one feeding]. I pay close attention to when the parents feed and when it is time for the second feeding of the day [usually about noon time] I will take the baby out and offer it a few CC's of formula. In a few days I will take it out twice a day and so the same again.. I am not over feeding them, just getting them used to formula, hand feeding and being handled.
By 3 weeks I start to offer the babys [who have now usually climbed from the nest box into the cage and have started showing interest in foraging] cooked rice, potato, peas, beans, sprouts, bread, shredded carrots and leafy greens several times a day.
By the time they hit 4 weeks, I place them in a weaning cage, and separate their parents [hopefully before they have set up nest again [eek!]. By now they are starting to eat on their own and I offer them seed on the floor of their cage, as well as soft foods. Once the babys are in the weaning cage, I ONLY offer them formula when they cry for it. This encourages them to eat on their own, but also to know that they have food if the need it. Of course I keep a very close eye on them to make sure that they are eating enough, but most of my babys are fully weaned at 5 to 6 weeks. I know this is early, but in my opinion, its the same scenario as letting infants listen to and watch "baby einstein" before they can actually tell you that they can comprehend it. If you offer it to them they will try, if you wait, they wont. By 6 weeks I start getting them used to other people in the house and guests, visitors, and other pets.
I know that many people think that I take this WAY too seriously, and I do, but I have a personal guarantee that when you get one of my birds, you have a friend for life. They are sweeter, and better tempered and mannered than many birds I have seen out there. This is also why I only set up one or two nest box's at a time. This way I can give the babys my undivided attention 100% of the time, while they are growing up.